NBA Living & Dying By The 3-Point Shot
MIAMI (AP) — The NBA is more reliant on the 3-pointer than ever.
Entering Game 6 of the NBA Finals on Tuesday night, there had already been more 3-pointers made (1,171) and taken (3,414) than in any postseason in league history, and both were well ahead of the numbers posted last season.
A year ago, NBA teams made only 994 shots from 3-point range in the playoffs, trying 2,983.
What's been happening in the playoffs is a continuation from the regular season, which was also record-setting on the 3-point front.
NBA players smashed the previous record for 3-pointers made this season, connecting 17,603 times — well ahead of the previous mark of 16,352 set during the 2008-09 season. Players took 49,067 attempts from 3-point range this season, another record by a considerable margin. The previous record for attempts was 44,622, in the 2009-10 campaign.
Just because players are taking more 3's doesn't mean the shooting percentages are rising.
Players connected on 35.9 percent of their 3-pointers in the regular season, the fifth-best pace in league history. And in the playoffs, the league success rate entering Tuesday night was 34.3 percent, only 15th-best since the NBA added the 3-pointer.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press
